Grain-drier.



W. E. ELLIS.

GRAIN DRIER.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 24,1908.

921,097. Patented May 11, 1909.

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W. E. ELLIS.

l GRAIN DRIER. APPLIOATION Him) JULY 24,1908. v

Patented May 11, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented May 11, 1909n 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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V'WYNNE. ELLIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1909.

Application Vfiled. .uly 2e, 1908. Serial No. 445,112.

To all whom it may concern: A

Beit known that I, WYNNVE. ELLis, a resi-` dent of Chicago, in thecounty of @ook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Grain-Driers, of hich the following is a full,clear, and exact escription.

The invention relates to grain-driers, and more particularly to the typein which the grain is dis osed in vertical 'shafts or comparatively t.in layers and submitted to the action of air currents.

In Letters Patent No. 620,432, granted February 28, 1899, there isdisclosed an ap` paratus in which the grain is disposed in verticalshafts or columns and in which there are air-inducts or pressureeiiues,and educts or exhaust-fines through which air under pressure is appliedto both sides of the graincolumns to cause the air to pass lengthwise ofthe column and then be discharged at.

both sides thereof into the `exhaust flues. VIn practice it has beenfound desirable to provide vertically extending walls between thepressure and' exhaust-iiues to cause the aircurrents to traversethegrain-column vertically some distance greater than the thickness ofthe horizontal division-walls between the pressure and exhaust-flues toeffect a uniform and even drying of the` grain throughout thegrain-shafts. Mere increase of thickness of the horizontal divisional`walls renders the drier costly in construction and furthermore resultsin additional height of the apparatus due to the lack of utilization ofthe space between the iiues. Furthermore, at present it is regarded aspreferable to avoid the use of wood in the construction of grain-driers.

The invention designs to obviate `these structural features ofgrain-driers by provid-V ing a construction which is metallic through-`out and further, to provide a drierin which the capacity thereof is notlessened by employment of dead air-spaces or thick solid division-wallsand to provide a construction in which the grain may be eiiiciently anduniformly treated.

A further objectof the invention is to provide an improved grain-drierin which the grain will be disposed -in comparatively narrow-shafts orcolumns and in which both sides of the grain-column are subjected to theaction of the air-blast which will meet in the grain-columns and passlongitudinally thereof to the exhaust or educt iiues.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a grain-drierwhich is simple in construction and may be formed in sections which may,be assembled to form a drier of the desired capacity and which may beproduced at a low cost. 4

The invention consists in the'several novel features hereinafter setforth andmore particularly defined by claim at the conclusion hereof.

In thedrawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sec tion of a grain-drierembodying the preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view of thedrier partly in end elevation and partly in section. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section on line 8-3 of Fig. 2.` Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a perspective parts beingshown in section illustrating a portion ofthe drier. Fig. 6 is a sectionillustrating a 1nodified forni of the invention.

The grain-drier comprises a series of vertical shafts 10 into the top ofwhich grain is usually discharged from a suitable garner, as wellunderstood in the art. The ends of each of the grain-shafts are closedby columns, `each consisting` of a pair of channel-beams 12, yand to`the outer ianges of each column, screen-cloths 14 are secured byrivets14. Said screen-cloths forni foraminous sides oi' the grain-shafts forholding the grain and permitting the passage of air to and from thegrain-columns. rlransverse induct and educt-flues fer the air-blast areformed between each of the grain-shafts and these flues vcommunicatewith the sides oi' the grain-shaft through the screencloths to permitthe air to pass into and out of the grainshafts. These iiues arearranged and disposed to cause the air to pass into the shaft throughboth sides thereof, thence vertically through `the grain-column andshaft into correspondingly disposed exhaust-nues.

The spaces between the grain-shafts are divided into a vertical seriesof transverse iiues by horizontal division-walls 21. Each -flue has oneopen side 22, opening into the grain-shaft at one side of said space anda closed side 20 adjacent the grain-shaft at the other side.V Thesehorizontal and vertical divisionfwalls are formed by extending a plateor plates of metal continuously across the space between the shafts,thence vertically at one side to forni the side wall for one liuc,thence across the space to the other side, thence vertically to form aclosed side adjacent the grain-shaft at the other side and so on. rlhismanner o'l' 'forming or dividing the spaces between the grain-shaftsinto `tlues is important because it provides a construction which maiTbe metallic throughout. As a result ol' this disposition of thedivisionwalls vl'or the llines, the i'lues ol' a vertical series openalternatelyv into the grain-shafts between which the series is disposedand the closed sides for the 'llues i'orm iinperforate vertical walls atthe sides oi the sha-tts by which the air blast is caused to passvertically through the shal't and grain therein between the i'lues andthe vertical wall forms a division-wall between the iiues and one o'lIthe grain-shafts as well as an imperforate wall 'l'or directingI theblast vertically in the grain-shalt.

Air under pressure passes into the graincolurnns in the shafts throughsome of the ilues which are open at one end for communication with asupply-chamber (L to which hot air under pressure is supplied by a fanl) as well understood in the art, and said tiues are closed at theiropposite ends and constitute pressure-ihres e through the open sides of'which the air blast passes into the grainshafts. @ther ilues are closedat that end of the shafts at which the supply-chamber is located and areopen at their opposite ends at which the exhaust-chamber is located, andthese .tlues constitute exhaust-fines d through the open sides of whichthe air-blast passes from the grain-shafts and into the exhaustchamber.The closed ends of the iiues are formed b v horizontal strips or beams24 which extend across, and are secured to, the ends of the end-columnsof the grain-shafts b v bolts 25. These beams 2st are alternatelydisposed on the opposite ends of the shafts to close the exhaust-hues atthat end it which the supply-chamber is disposed and to close thepressure-fines at that end at which the exhaust-chamber is located.Crossbeams 24 being secured to the beams l2 which Jform the ends of thegrain-shafts serve also to secure the columns in connected relation. Thescreen-cloths 14t are secured to the vertical division walls by rivetslet so that the latter will serve to bach the screencloth and prevent itfrom bulging so that the shaft-sides will remain straight and smooth tofacilitate gravitation of the grain in the column when desired.

The pressure-dues for each of the grainshafts are oppositely disposed atthe sides thereoitl and the exhaust-fines are correspondingly disposedso that the air blast will pass into the grain column at both sidesthereof and will be directed vertically between the imperforate walls 20of the intermediate ilues for the next adjacent grain-shafts. l?.esultantly the air blast passes into the graincolumn at bothsidesthereot` and thence vertieally through the column a distancecorrespendingr to the height ol' the intermediate hues to thee.;liaustllues, as indicated b v arrows in Figs. Li and 5. rlhus, theclosed sides ol the [lues i'or one ol the shafts serve as divisitm-wallsfor directing the blast. vertically in the adjacent grain-shaft. aresult of this construction, the division-walls 20 and 2l l', et\.veenthe llues and the grainshatts may be formed oli sheet metal and may beet continuous formation so that a lireproof structure will be provided.Further. the use et dead air spaces or thich division uf'alls to causethe air blast to pass .'ert ierullf. through the `grr-.in shafts areavoid ed. z result of this formation, the vert ical series o luesbetween two shafts open alternately into the sha" respectively and haveclosed or imperiioate valls at one side ulrich form the division wallfor directing the hlest verticallyA in the adjacent llue and thegu'essure und exhaust-lines tor one shalt are :-1e.e.rated h v theintermediate llues lor the a d iacent shalt. lesultant all oll the spacebetween the grain-shaft is utilized for [lues and the hlnst is forcedthrough the grain-columns between the llues in such manner that thegrain will be unitormlv treated.

Pressure-dues for a column are oppositeljf disposed at the sides of eachgrain-she it and the exhaust-'dues are cm'respoiulingli' disposed withV.lines for the adjacent shells therelretween. nherelorc, the airblastpasses lroni the pressure-lilies into the sides of the grain-shaftthence vertically upv` nrdly and downuf'ardly between the imperloratowalls of the lines for the adjacent shafts and into the next series eilpress e and exhaustflues for the same grain-shalit7 the current enteringthe shaft Vfrom both sides will meet in the grain-column and he forcedupwardhv therethrough to an cxhaustchamber. Therefore, the air docs notpass directly through the grain-column but passes into it and thencelongjitudinall)v theret'it to :m exhaust-flue. Furthermore, theimperlornte walls of the pressure-cliambers become heated b v theair-blast therein and aid in drying the adjacent grain-column.

The grain-shafts are open at the bottom so that the grain therein willkeraif'itate when re,- leased. The bottom oll each shaft is norina-lli,Tclosed by a suitable valve e which is adapted to be shifted intoposit-ion to hohl the grain-columns in the shafts while the vrain isbeing' treated and which. when open,

will permit the grain to pa out ol the sha `t. Any suitablevalve-operating mechanism ina-y be provided as well understood in theart.

The operation ot the improved grain-drier will be as vfollow-i:itssuniiug hot air under pressure to be present in the supply-chainberat one side oit the drierl it will pass into the ends of thepressure-ehembers which are in communication with the supply-chamber Utlllt)

l llt) and pass into the grain-shafts through the open sides thereotland thence upwardly and downwardly through the grain-column and escapethrough the sides of the grain-shaft into the exhaust-fines and thencethrough the open ends of said iiues into the exhaustchamber.

ln erecting the drier, a channel-beam 12 is secured to each edge of oneof the screen sides 14 of the shaft and then two of such sides with thechannel-beams thereon are secured to the sides of the vertical walls 20of the sheet metal flue-structure, so the division-walls 20 and 21 areformed to constitute a frame, any number of which may be secured inconnected relation by the horizontal beams 24. Rcsultantly, these framesconstitute units any number of which may be secured together side byside to provide a drier of the desired capacity. In Fig. 6 isillustrated a modified form of the invention, in which the horizontaldivision-walls between the pressure and exhaust-'fines respectively forthe adjacent shafts are omitted. In lieu of dividing Vthe pressure-finesand exhaust-fines for the adjacent shafts respectively and providing acontinuously extending wall of sheet metal, the ilues are formed by aseries of angular-ly bent stripscomprising vertical portion 30, forminga closed side for one of the shafts, and an oppositely disposed verticalwall 31 forming an imperiorate side for the next adj acenty grain-shaftand an intermediatehorizontally connecting wall 32.

The invention possesses several important advantages. lt provides astructure whereby the air-blast enters the sides of the grainshafts andpasses vertically through the grain-column or shaft to theexhaust-chambers, thus causing the grain to be uniformly treated andavoiding the necessity of forming vertical passages for the air to thegrainshaft by solid division walls or decreasing the number of flues ina grain-shaft of a given height, and furthermore increasing the capacityof the apparatus.

While the structure has been described in connection with the use ofhot-air, it may manifestly be employed with equal advantage in coolinggrain.

rlhe invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth since these may be modiiied within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grain-shafts, laterally extendingwalls dividing the spaces betweenthe shafts into a vertical series of iiues having sides opening into thegrainshai'ts, and vertically extending walls between the laterallyextending walls, some of said flues being open at one end forcommunication with an air-supply, and others being open at theiropposite ends to form cxhaust-flues. 2. ln apparatus of thecharacterdescribed, the combination of a series of grain-shafts,

vlaterally extending walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into avertical series ol iiues having sides opening into the grainshafts, andvertically extending walls between the laterally extending walls, someoi said lues being open at one end for communication with'an air-supply,and others being open at their opposite ends to form exhaust-hues, saidpressure and exhaust lues being oppositely disposed at both sides ol'the grain-shafts respectively.

3. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination oi'l aseries of grain-shafts, laterally extending walls dividing the spacesbetween the shafts into a vertical series of iiues having sides opening'into the grainshafts, and vertically extending walls between thelaterally extending walls, some oi' said flues being open at one end forcommunication with an air-supply, and others being o en at theiropposite ends to form exhaust-ilpues, said ressure and exhaust iluesbeing oppositely ispose'd at both sides ol' the grain-shaftsrespectively, so that the blast will pass vertically between saidvertical walls from the pressure iiues to the exhaust ilues.

4. In apparatus of the Vcharacter described, the combination of a seriesoi' grain-shafts, laterally extending walls dividing the spaces 'betweenthe shafts into a vertical series of ilues having sides opening into thegrainshafts, and vertically extending walls between the laterallyextending walls, some oil said flues being open at one end forcoinmunication with an air-supply, and others being o )en at theiropposite ends te form exhaustues, the vertical walls being connected tothe laterally extending division walls.

5. lnapparatus oi the character described, the combination of a seriesci' grain-shafts, laterally extending walls dividing the spaces betweenthe shafts into a vertical series oi ilues having sides opening into thegrain-v shafts, and vertically extending walls between the laterallyextending walls, some oi' said lues being open at one end for ccm-Inunication -with an air-supply, and others being open at their oppositeends to form exhaust liues, the pressure and exhaust-hues Jr'or eachsha'lt being alternately disposed in each vertical series, said verticalwalls extending between the pressure-hues to the exhaust-fines.

6. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination ci' a seriesoi' grain-shafts, walls dividing the spaces between the shafts into avertical series ol' transverse lues, some Walls for the 'lines dividine'them 'from the I, being open at one end for communication of said fluesbeing open at one end for communication with an air-supply and closed attheir opposite ends to 'forni pressure-chambers, others being' open andclosed at their opposite ends to 'form exhaust-chambers the flues havingone of their sides opening into one of the adjacent grain-shafts, andsideoth er ad acent grain-shaft.

7. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grain-shafts, Walls dividing the spaces betvveen the 'shafts intovertical series of transverse flues at each side of each grain-shaft,some of said flues with an air-supply and closed at their opposite endsto form pressui'e-chambers, others being,r open and closed at theiropposite ends to 'forni exhaust-chambers, the flues having' one oftheir' sides opening` into one of the adjacent grain-shafts, andside-'Walls for the flues dividing them from the other adjacentgrain-shaft.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grain-shafts, Walls dividing the spaces between the shafts intovertical series of transverse lflues, some of said flues being open atone end for coinmunieation with an air-suppljT and closed at theiropposite ends to forni pressurechambers, others being open and closed attheir opposite ends to form exhaust-chambers, the tlues having one oftheir sides opening into one of the adjacent grain-shafts, andside-Walls for the flues dividing them 'from the other adjacentgrain-shaft, the pressure and exhaust-ihres for each shaft beingoppositely disposed at the sides thereof.

9. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grain-shafts, Walls dividing` the spaces betvveen the shafts intovertical series of transverse fines, some o'l' said flues being open atone end for communication with an air-supply and closed at theiropposite ends to form pressure-chambers, others being open and closed attheir opposite ends to form exhaust-chambers, the lues having one oftheir sides opening` into one of the adjacent grain-shafts, andside-Walls 'for the flues dividing,` them from the other adjacentgrain-shaft, the pressure and exhaust-fines 'for each shaft beingoppositely disposed at the sides thereof, said side- Walls beingoppositely disposed at the sides of the shaft to direct the blastverticallyv between the pressure and exhaust-fines.

10. n apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grainshafts, Walls dividing the spaces between the shafts intovertical series of transverse flues, some of said flues being open atone end for communication with an air-suppljT and closed at theiropposite end to form pressure-chambers, others being open and closed attheir opposite ends to form exhaust- 1 chambers, each Vline having anopen side, the open sides of the A[lues of a vertical series openingalternately into the sides of the grain-shafts between which. they aredisposed.

11. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grainshafts, walls dividing the spaces between the shafts intovertical series of transverse fines, some of said flues being open atone end 'for communication with an air-supply and closed at theiropposite ends to iforin pressure-chambers, others being open and closedat their opposite ends to Aform exhaust-chambers, each flue having anopen and a closed side, the open sides of the fines of a vertical seriesopening' alternately into the sides of the grain-shafts between whichthe)T are disposed, the closed sides dividing the tlues from one of theadjacent grain-shafts.

l2. ln apparatus of the character described the co 1 bination of aseries of `grainsha'fts, Wa ls dividing` the spaces between the shaftsinto vertical series of transverse lines, son-'e of said if'lues being'open at one end for coi runication with an air-supply and closed l attheir opposite ends to fore n prcssnre-clntnbers, others being open andclosed at their opposite ends te form exhaust-elmebers, each 'fluehaving an open and a closed side, the open sides of the fines of avertical series opening alternatelv into the sides of the grain-shaftsbetween which they :1re disposed, the closed sides dividing` the Yllucs'fron one of the adjacent lrain-shaft's, said side-Walls being' disposedin horizontal series at both sides of the shafts to direct the blastverticall)ir fro in the j'n'essure-llues to the e h aust-f'hi es.

13. 'ln apparatus of the character described, the co bination of aseries of grainshafts, fora i inous sides for the shafts, and sheetietal walls extending' transversehv and \'ertic.-'lly in the spacesbetween the shafts and dividing such spaces into a vert ind series oftransverse fines having' one of their sides open, sore of said 'fluesbeing;l open :it one end Vfor roY` Aunication with an sir-snpphv toforfn pressure-fines, and others being open at the opposite end to forniexhaust-fines.

14. in apjliaratus of the character described, the co :bination of aseries of grainshafts, fora inous sides for the shafts. and sheetfetalWalls extending transverselv :nid vertically in the spares between theshafts and dividing such spaces into a vertical series of transverse'flues having' opposit el v disposed open. sides, opening` into thesides of the grain-shafts between which the llues are disposed, sonxe ofsaid flues being' open at one end for co nniunieation with anair-supplyv to forie1 pressure-ihres, and others being open :lt theopposite end to forfn eXlnmst-flues.

15. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grainshafts, foraminous sides for the shafts and sheet-metal wallscontinuously extending transversely and vertically in the spaces betweenthe shafts, and dividing such spaces into a vertical series oftransverse flues having one of their sides open, some of said iiues eingopen at one end for communication with an air-supply to formpressure-titles, and

Y others being` open at the opposite end to form exhaust-flues.

16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grainshafts, foraminous sides for the shafts, and sheet-metal wallscontinuously extending transversely and vertically in the spaces betweenthe shafts and dividing such spaces into a verticalseries of transverseiues having oppositely disposed open sides, opening into the sides ofthe grain-shafts between which the flues are disposed, some of saidflues being open at one end for communication with an air-supply to formpressureflues, and others being open at the opposite end to formexhaust-lines. 1

17. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grainshafts, foraminous sides for the shafts and sheet-metal wallsextending transversely and vertically in the spaces between the shaftsand dividing such spaces into a vertical series of transverse-nueshavingone of their sides open, some of said iiues being open at one endfor communication with an air-supply to forni pressure-flues, and othersbeing open at their opposite endto form exhaustlues, the open sides ofthe flues being oppositely disposed on both sides of the shafts.

18. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof grainshafts, foraminous sides for the shafts, and sheet-metal wallscontinuously extending transversely and vertically in the spaces be-Vtween the shafts, and dividing such spaces into a vertical series oftransverse flues having one of their sides open, some of said iiuesbeing open at one end for communication with an air-supply to formpressure-fines, and others being open at the o posite end to formexhaust-lines, the open si es of the flues being oppositely disposed onboth sides of the shafts. 4

19. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof vertical grain-shafts, columns forming the shaftends, walls dividingthe spaces between the shaft into transverse flues, and beams exshaftinto transverse flues, and spaced beams extending across each ofthecolumns at each end of the shafts respectively and alternately disposedto leave the flues open at one end and closed at the other.

21. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof vertical grain-shafts comprisinga pair of columns forming theshaft-ends and foraminous sides,pressure and exhaust-flues between theshafts having sides opening into the shafts, and means for closing oneend of each shaft.

22. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof vertical grain-shafts comprising a pair of flanged columns formingthe shaft-ends and foraminous sides, pressure and exhaust-fines betweenthe shafts' having sides opening into the shafts and means for closingone end of each shaft.

23. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a seriesof vertical grain-shafts comprising foraminoussides and a pair ofcolumns forming the end of each shaft, pressure and exhaust finesbetween the shafts, and spaced beamsV extending across the columns toform closed ends for said flues.

24. In vapparatus of the character described, the combination of aseries of vertical grain-shafts comprising foraminous sides and columnsforming the shaft-ends, sheetmetal walls in the spaces between thegrainshaft dividing them into flues, means securing the foraminous sidesto said walls, and means for closing some of the flues at one end andthe others at their op osite ends.

25. In apparatus of t e character described, the combination of a seriesof vertical grain-shafts comprising foraminous sides and columns formingthe shaft-ends, sheetmetal Walls in the spaces between the grainshaftsdividing them into flues, means securing the foraminous sides to saidwalls, and beams extending across Vthe columns for closing some of thefiues at one end and the others at their opposite ends.

WYNN E. ELLIS.

Witnesses:

LEONE S. RUssELL, FRED. GARLAND.

